Pete Haynes says he is determined to make the most of the opportunity he has earned at Cheltenham Town.

He is currently enjoying his first full season as Cheltenham Town Under-18s coach, working with head of academy coaching Antoine Thompson to bring players through for first team manager Gary Johnson’s consideration.

Haynes may only be 22, but he has the full respect of the 16 to 18-year-olds he mentors.

He has also gone through many of the experiences his young hopefuls will be going through now, having been an Under-16 player with the Robins before an injury ended any hopes of earning a scholarship.

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“I am massive pleased and grateful to have this opportunity and I am looking forward to the rest of the season ahead,” Haynes said.

“The lads are a pleasure to work with and my job is to give them best possible opportunity possible of going on to earn professional contracts.”

Haynes starting out in a part-time coaching role with the younger age groups while he completed his A-levels.

He then took on the role of lead foundation coach, working with nine to 12-year-olds as the club earned Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) Category Three status.

It was not long before he stepped up to working with the Under-13-16s and now he is working with the oldest players in an academy system which has produced current professionals Matt Bower and Josh Thomas, (professional development phase).

Matt Bower had an excellent game for Cheltenham Town

Forward Luke Thomas, now at Derby County, was from the same crop of youngster and Haynes feels the EPPP strategy is starting to pay off for the Robins youth system.

“Our main target is one pro per crop of youngsters and we have been above and beyond that,” Haynes said.

“We have a lot of good youngsters coming through at all age groups and the academy is performing very well.